Pochettino making life ‘really difficult’ for Nice amid job concerns, with second ex-Prem boss on radar

Nice are struggling to advance negotiations with Mauricio Pochettino about their vacant manager’s position, with another ex-Premier League boss now in the running.
Pochettino is still out of a job after Paris Saint-Germain sacked him in July. The former Tottenham boss orchestrated a host of marquee signings in Paris but was unable to muster much success.
He won Ligue 1, but the dramatic Champions League collapse to Real Madrid in last season’s knock-out stages marked his downfall.
Pochettino has subsequently been looking around for a return to the dugout. French club Nice have recently been in negotiations with the Argentine, amid concerns for Lucien Favre’s future.
What’s more, discussions have reportedly moved towards Nice’s plans for the January transfer window. Pochettino would supposedly want Tottenham goalkeeper Hugo Lloris as a priority addition.
According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, though, Nice are struggling to truly progress talks with Pochettino.
“The truth is that Nice are trying to approach Pochettino to replace Lucien Favre, but at the moment there’s nothing advanced at all,” Romano told Caught Offside.
“Pochettino is still waiting for other top clubs or future opportunities, so I don’t see Poch as an easy appointment for Nice… really difficult.”
Scott Parker or Pochettino for Nice
Amid Nice’s talks with Pochettino struggling to go anywhere, the Ligue 1 side are beginning to look elsewhere.
Foot Mercato claims that former Bournemouth boss Scott Parker has been mentioned at the club.
Indeed, Nice advisor Iain Moody has recommended the 41-year-old as a manager they should be talking to.
Parker initially worked with Fulham in the Premier League, before switching to Bournemouth in the Championship.
He won promotion with the Cherries, but faced the sack shortly into their Premier League return after defeats to Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester City.
Parker averaged 1.82 points per match from 55 matches with Bournemouth. He scored 1.30 on the same metric from 105 games in charge of Fulham.
Pochettino, meanwhile, has now managed two high-profile clubs in Tottenham and PSG without much silverware to show for it.
Aside from the Ligue 1 title and two French cups, he led Spurs to the Champions League final in 2019.
Ex-Prem bosses could step in
Pochettino has clearly tasted top-level football at two of Europe’s elite clubs and so has an appetite to return to that level.
But, after seeing his PSG tenure unravel, there are concerns for how he manages high-profile players and egos.
As such, it remains highly uncertain if he will take the Nice job.
Parker, though, looks like he would be more of a good fit for the French club. After impressing with Bournemouth and Fulham, he will be looking to reinstate his value as a manager after what many have called an unfair sacking by the Cherries.
His side beat Aston Villa in their first Premier League game of the season, but their lack of summer spending and funding showed against the likes of Liverpool.
A move to France with some familiar faces such as Kasper Schmeichel and Ross Barkley could see him settle quickly.
A Nice switch may be a solid option for Parker, then, but not so much for Pochettino given his concerns about the size of the club.